Goje, Yahaya tussle the Gombe expected time bomb
Chima Azubuike, writes about the intrigues, blame game that led to November 5th 2021, where mayhem was let loose around the Gombe/ Bauchi expressway, an axis leading to the airport.
To active political watchers conversant with politics of political mentorship it was only a matter of time for the ticking bomb in the relationship between Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya and his political mentor Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe central in the Senate.
This may not be too far from the known tradition where a jolly relationship turns sour usually after the elections. Some instances in this regard includes; Adedibu/ Ladoja tussle (Oyo), Chris Uba / Chris Ngige debacle (Anambra), Orji Kalu/ Theodore Orji makaba dance (Abia), Tinubu/ Ambode show (Lagos), Oshiomhole and Obaseki banana peel relationship (Edo).
To some after Yahaya was declared winner of 2019 gubernatorial elections that was when the count down began. Other keen watchers said since Yahaya did not get support from his former principal Goje, in the party primaries whom he (Yahaya) served as finance commissioner when Goje was governor, then it was time to cease the party structure.
However, some also adduced that the two years the state benefitted from the romance between the two men was more like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. It was widely speculated that it remained so, because the governor allowed Goje to determine the scheme of things. This relationship continued to blossom even in May when the former governor, now senator acknowledged that since 2011 when he left office May 2021 was the first time he was coming to the government house council chamber. At the chamber Goje lauded the efforts of his political son cum friend. He made this declaration when he led members of the senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution (North East Zone).
Goje said, “This Governor is our Governor, he is doing very very well, he has picked up from where we left and is even doing better than we did and therefore he deserves all our support. So, I want to use this opportunity to call on the people of Gombe State particularly the political elite to rally round the Governor and give him the moral boost that he needs so as to do better.
“Before I talk on what brought us here to Gombe, I think it’s important to let the public know that since I left this government house ten years ago, this is my first courtesy call.
“For obvious reasons, in the last dispensation, I was never here and I never came to the government house, of course there’s no need for me to be here then.”
Not many suspected that May courtesy call was the beginning of the fall. The romance continued through to Eid celebration where they moved from the Eid prayer ground to the Emir of Gombe durbar ground to relish the moment as special guests.
Gombe APC stakeholders’ agree on Consensus
Danjuma Goje, Muhammadu Yahaya and other stakeholders of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), on 22nd of July 2021 agreed to have a consensus arrangement for electing party officials.
While setting the stage and giving an overview of the meeting, the Chief of staff Government House, Abubakar Kari said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to deliberate on how best to approach the forthcoming congresses in the State following the release of the time table by the National Headquarters of the party.
Also speaking, the former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje expressed gratitude with the turn of events at the APC stakeholders meeting, throwing his weight behind the consensus method to demonstrate the unity of the party in the State.
He said, “Let’s allow the Governor to chart the course for the party in the State and I have the conviction that the Governor will do justice in that regard.”
He therefore called for understanding and cooperation across board irrespective of the outcome of the congresses, saying it is only by so doing that the party can wax stronger and continue to provide good leadership in the State.
In a two point communiqué read by the state Governor, Yahaya after the stakeholders meeting held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, the APC stalwarts also unanimously affirmed their unalloyed loyalty to him towards providing direction to the party both in the build up to and during the congresses in the state and always.
The communique read in part, “The meeting resolved to adopt consensus in the forthcoming congresses of the party at the ward, Local government and state levels.
“The meeting also affirmed loyalty to the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in providing direction to the party in the conduct of all congresses that will come up very soon at all levels in the state.”
Goje distances himself from the affirmation exercises, senatorial district meetings where the governor was endorsed for second term
This event soon set the tone for what played out on the 5th November as the former governor stayed away the ward, local government and state executive members inauguration. The state soon witnessed a rain of vote of confidence across various quarters from the state house of assembly, to individual emirs, to senatorial districts all endorsing the governor for a second term.
At one of the endorsements, Gombe Central which was held in Yalmatu Deba local government area, Deba is within the constituency of Goje. Unlike the rest which was hosted by the two senators, Goje still stayed away. Speaking at the event, Habu Muazu, former youth leader of PDP while Goje was governor, who is currently a chieftain of the APC decried why the former governor (Goje) would be fighting the current administration when he has enjoyed 100 percent loyalty from governor (Yahaya), adding that key loyalists of Goje including his family and friends have appointment positions.
He said, “Inuwa, knew that Goje did not vote him. I’m telling you this so that you won’t think that Inuwa was the one who rushed into fight with him, some people will lie to you that he was the one that helped him to become a governor and that, I’m telling you this for every sensible person should go and pass judgement.
“After all these, we wanted to appoint commissioners, we advised the governor not to appoint a commissioner that will represent Akko from Kashere because there is a Senator and a head of service in Kashere. We are supposed to appoint a commissioner from Pindiga, since they don’t have anyone representing them. Because of dignity, what first brought rift between Dankwambo and Goje, was after election, he gave him (Dankwambo) his daughter to be appointed as a commissioner and Dankwambo refused.”
Muazu added, “Inuwa wanted to give him respect by appointing his daughter as a commissioner so for God’s sake whoever does this for you, what will make you fight the person? In this government of Inuwa Yahaya, Goje’s daughter is a commissioner, his son in- law is a commissioner, and his friends and family were all given a position in this government, what exactly will make you fight with Inuwa?”
On his part, Member representing Akko Federal Constituency Usman Kumo, who has been having running battle with the senator his erstwhile political benefactor said, “Inuwa has entrenched politics of maturity and tolerance. We mobilized for this meeting without the governor’s contribution. Humiliating the governor will never see the light of the day. He remains the leader of the party, follow the governor or find yourself another leader.”
Recall that in June 26, 2021, admirers of the former governor, including Akko LGA boss Abubakar Barambu, warned Goje that they would sue him to court, if he failed to seek re-election, sequel to Goje’s December 8, 2019, pronouncement that he would not contest in 2023.
Kumo is said to be nursing the ambition to take over from the ranking senator Goje, whom had earlier promised not to run but with issues of litigation by his constituent should he refuse to run, alot of persons are expectant to know his line of action.
How safe is Gombe with the current political manuveuring?
According to Cliff Stanley, a public affairs commentator, the event which culminated into the attack, would be best described as political plundering.
“What happened on Friday between Gov Yahaya and Sen Goje it’s a political plunder by both political actors. These are leaders that were from the same political party in PDP from 2003-2011, and APC from 2015-2019 when Yahaya contested and emerged as the state governor.
“Most of the electorate expect that there will be political cohesion having worked together at both parties, but political survival and the politics of 2023 pitched the Governor Yahaya against Sen Goje after the party congress elections in ward,local and state which the Governor hijacked to himself. With the Governor making a rhetorical statement about the difference between a senator and a Governor bridged the previous relationship they had as political gladiators.
“This smeared the relationship they had. Governors in the state want to enjoy what previous governor’s enjoyed while they are governor’s but now senators,” Stanley said.
He added, “The Governor should show leadership while Sen Goje should show statesmanship for the state to continue to enjoy the relative peace it enjoyed. As they say all politics is local, what is manifesting in Gombe is the politics of 2023 manifesting in action.”
The governor should learn to be more Democratic
Also speaking, Hadu Ligari, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a lecturer with Gombe State University (GSU), appealed to the two groups to sheath their swords.
He categorized the current mayhem as an attempt to bring back the years of thuggery, adding that the governor’s second bid may be challenging.
Ligari said, “The tendency of reawakening thuggery is high. They (other gladiators will be joining of forces against the present. Governor. The tendency of his second term bid is low. However, among the three gladiators seeking the seat. If he is wise he can get one on his side. That can give him ray of hope.
“In general, I think truth be told. yahaya can still get his way back to the seat. Once he can be democratic, he can pull a surprise. Politics works with emotions.But for now, The forces against him in Gombe seems huge a task for him. So we are expecting money politics from next year. These four guys are fighting him: Dankwambo, DanBarde, Jamilu, Bayero, Binta Bello, Ali JC, Goje are massive strengths pooled together.
“He need to be more democratic. He seems to be running the government alone. His Party men who gave him help are angry. They are yet to reap, so they feel. He need to be democratic and engaging with politicians. He also need to feel the pulse of his people.The country is right, economic policies in the state need to be gradually introduced. They are good policies for Gombe. Frankly try are..But the timing is making the economy bite harder.
The blame game
Friday’s incident was the climax of the brewing war where Goje was alleged to have been attacked by sponsored thugs on his way to Gombe metropolis from Lawanti Airport.
This eventually led to the resignation of the former commissioner for Environment and Forest Resources, Dr. Husaina Goje who returned to her plump job with Fiscal Responsibility Commission as an Assistant Director.
Although she refused to state the reason she threw in the towel back to Yahaya’s cabinet after months of endurance. It however, unclear if the son- in- law to the strong man Jalo Waziri, who superintend the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ministry as well as commissioners for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Muhammad Getado, Women Affairs Naomi Awak, many other loyalists would follow suit.
While her father through a press statement by his media aide Lilian Nworie, maintained that he was attacked by the governor’s security details involving Zulaidaini Abba and Sani Bajoga, the governor’s CSO, as those behind the attack.
Nworie said, “Distinguished senator’s trip was peaceful until when the governor’s aides including his aide-de-camp blocked the road. For two hours, they unleashed terror on Senator Goje and those in his convoy.
“It is unfortunate that one life was lost and many cars vandalised including the Senator’s vehicle. They smashed the windscreen. All efforts to make the governor’s aide-de-camp remove the blockade yielded no result as he insisted that he got instruction from the above that the former governor should not be allowed into the town, “the media aide said.
She said the governor’s driver, Aminu Hula and Gombe State APC Youth Leader, Kawu Lero have been arrested by the State Police Command.
“They have been arrested but the aide-de-camp who led the people to attack the former governor had since returned to those who sent him. The aide-de-camp said he was acting based on order from the above. In this case, it is his boss, Gombe State Governor,” she said.
She noted that former governor as a peace loving leader of the state has urged his teeming supporters to be calm and law abiding, while calling for independent investigation of matter.
On the other hand, Gombe chapter of the All Progressives Congress through the Publicity Secretary Moses Kyari, waded in although backing the governor as they asked Goje to tender apology to the people of the state for masterminding Friday’s violence.
The party also failed to state the next action should the former governor fail to apologize.
Kyari said, “The All Progressives Congress condemns in very strong terms the incidence of yesterday (Friday) where violent crowd of the Senator Danjuma Goje’s supporters led to the lost of five lives, destroying property of the APC worth millions of Naira. The party will not condone this barbaric act and will take measures to discipline any party member no matter how highly placed he or she is. We call on security men to carry out appropriate investigation into the matter and whosoever is found culpable must be punished according to the laws of the land.
“The party has agreed to compel senator Danjuma Goje to tender complete apology to members of the party and indigenes of Gombe State, over this unfortunate incidence. We want to assure the teeming supporters in the state that the APC remains a strong and united party under the leadership of Inuwa Yahaya, the governor of Gombe State, and under his watch no indigene of the state will be injured or harmed for any reason other than politicking.”
While the government claimed five persons were lost, with some others injured, Goje’s aide stated that one person died due to the violence. This was corroborated by police command. However, on Wednesday during an investigation conducted by our correspondent, one person was confirmed to have been brought in dead by some officials of the Accident and Emergency of the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe.
We have no hand in Goje’s Allegation – Gov Yahaya
While responding to journalists in Abuja, Governor Yahaya, debunked insinuations that the crisis was started by his men.
“The authorities concerned will find out the truth since he has reported so that the matter would be investigated. Let’s wait for the outcome of the investigation but whoever knows the history of Gombe knows who Goje is and they know who Inuwa (the current governor) is. People know the difference between us,” he said.
Commenting on the possibility of his re-election bid as the cause of the violence, he noted that his political future would be determined by God.
Yahaya said, “only God knows if both he and Goje would be alive in 2023.
“Well, what you need to know is that only God knows tomorrow. Both I and Goje don’t know if we will see the year 2023. My major aim is to stand firm and fulfil the pledges I made to the people in line with my oath of office as well as bring about development in our state, with peace and tranquillity prevailing because without peace, there wouldn’t be development.”
Governor Yahaya should learn from Dankwambo
Ligari added, “He should be more guided in words. And he need to be the one seeking seek.
“Talba (Dankwambo), had every reason to fight with Goje. But he did not. He knows it may affect lives. Our Governor must respect old authorities. No promotion of permanent Secretaries, etc. Are all pointers to unfriendly approach to leadership which drags popularity and acceptance low.”
